Friday, December 04, 2009

Listen, you know I support SO2 McCabe, SO2 Keefe & SO1 Heurtas in their fight to clear their names. But people like Congressman Dan Burtonaren't helping. Congressman Burton was just on FoxNews explaining how upset he is.....

And then he went all off track.

The point isn't whether or not it is right or wrong to have struck the terrorist.

The point isn't whether or not said terrorist is scum.

The point definitely has nothing to do with Attorney General Holder bringing GITMO detainees to New York for trial. And damn sure has nothing to do with Abu Ghraib.

Read the charges, they have to do with conflicting stories and possible interference with an investigation. The Navy is not saying it is right or wrong to hit a terrorist. The Navy is not saying that these men hit the terrorist. The Navy is not saying this POS, Ahmed Hashim Abed is a poor victim. The Navy is saying that an allegation was made and when they tried to get to the bottom of it, there was a problem.

This has nothing to do with Abed. This has everything to do with how the SEALs handle themselves and their fellow servicemen.

The system is in place to settle this matter. Let it go forward. Let the story see the light of day. These SEALs will have their day in court and that's how it is supposed to be.

Congressman Dan Burton spouting off at ADM Mullen about how he thinks Mullen should "do something about this" is ludicrous. For pity's sake Congressman, do a little research and look up "unlawful command influence". How would anyone be helped by having ADM Mullen, the CJCS squash this matter? If anything it would bring a bigger problem. It would look like these SEALs were guilty and needed help out of a jam. It would look like they couldn't stand up in the justice system and be vindicated.

8 comments:

I have to disagree. Isn't this why the Geneva Convention took place? If the roles were reversed, and this happened to one of us in a foreign country we would be crying foul. I think in the same position as the SEALS, I would have acted the same way, but that doesn't make it OK. 2 wrongs don't make a right. Where is the professionalism and the military bearing we are known for the world over?

I think what Maggie is saying is that if wrongs were proven to be committed then those who committed them should be held accountable, and it would be wrong to just sweep it under the rug as the congressman is suggesting.

I don't know what you are disagreeing with. The Geneva Conventions have nothing to do with that charges brought against the SEALs.

You ask where the professionalism and military bearing are? They are in this process. The fact that an allegation was investigated *at all* speaks to the fact that our military takes human rights more seriously than any other military in the history of the world.

You say you would have acted "in the same way". The same way as what? You have no idea what happened. None of us do. That is the point of the investigation.

You say "2 wrongs don't make a right". That is correct. But what "wrong" or "wrongs" are you talking about?

Go read the charges as brought. Only one is charged with assault - SO2 McCabe. They are all charged with interfering with the investigation - "making a false official statement"; "dereliction of performance of duty"; "impediment of an investigation".

So an allegation was brought. There was an investigation. Charges were brought. There was an offer of Captain's Mast (or Admiral's, depending on who was presiding). That offer was refused and a Courts Martial was requested instead. This process is ongoing. How does this involve or violate the Geneva Conventions?

And by the way, this happens to us all the time in foreign countries, so there's no "what if" there.

Thanks, Maggie. This story smelled fishy to me ever since I first heard it. It makes MUCH more sense if they're being charged with violations connected with the investigation, rather than smacking around a prisoner who wasn't actually all that much smacked around. No matter what the situation, nobody can be allowed to lie in an official investigation and get away with it.

Official documents were supposed to be released yesterday, December 4th. But to my knowledge they weren't. So far everything we know is based on people who have seen the deocuments. As soon as I find them I will link them.

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I am 54, happily divorced, mother of two, grandmother of the most spectacular baby boy. I am a registered Republican with fiscally conservative views; libertarian social views & ardently supportive of a strong US Military
I was born and raised in Boston and can not conceive of living anywhere else. I think Brian Lamb of CSpan is the sexiest man on TV. If you want my attention, you have to be aggressive and smart and you have to feed my head.
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